Epicondylitis band or corticosteroid injection for lateral epicondylitis treatment?

Aim: Comparison of the short- and medium-term results of the epicondylitis band and corticosteroid and local anesthetic injections for lateral epicondylitis. Study Plan: This was a retrospective and comparative study related to acute lateral epicondylitis treatment. The patient groups named A and B received two different treatments. There were 151 patients in Group A and 205 patients in Group B. Group A received the epicondylitis band and Group B corticosteroid and local anesthetic injections. Both groups were also given stretch exercises and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients were checked at week 1, 4, 12, and 24 and the Quick DASH scoring was used on week 12 and 24. Results: On the 3rd month of treatment, Group A showed recovery rates of moderate, good and full in 18.5%, 32.5% and 30.5% respectively while these rates were 33.2%, 13.7% and 25.4% in Group B. The same rates at the end of month 6 were 17.2%, 41.1% and 17.2% in Group A and 28.3%, 1% and 17.2% in Group B. Conclusions: Combined treatment (physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) with an epicondylitis band was more effective than combined treatment with steroid and local anesthetic injections in acute lateral epicondylitis.